STRANGER THINGS: Season 1: The Bathtub
We battle against spiritual forces of evil.
Should You Watch It?
“The Bathtub” brings the different groups together as they work toward the same cause: finding the missing people and killing the monster. The episode is exciting and builds toward a climactic conclusion.
Its strongest feature is its moral and redemptive worldview. The fight against evil is motivated by love, and the “Upside Down” becomes a stronger symbol of an evil spiritual world. Still, there is moderate questionable content, some disturbing imagery, and more foul language than in earlier episodes.
If your family includes teenagers or adults who can handle those concerns, this is worth watching. For younger children, use your own discernment.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESSeveral groups who have been working toward the same goal finally join forces to find the missing people and defeat the monster. Eleven attempts to locate Will and Barb by entering the “Upside Down” through her mind, using a swimming pool as part of the process.
Meanwhile, the man who experimented on Eleven when she was a child is drawing closer to finding her.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is an especially strong episode. “The Bathtub” is described as one of the most exciting episodes of the season, and it sets up a climactic conclusion.
Its momentum comes from the different groups finally joining efforts and pursuing the same cause. The episode also gives its supernatural conflict a strong moral and redemptive foundation.
The Worldview
The episode presents a strong moral worldview in which good continues fighting evil. That evil includes both human and non-human beings, while the “Upside Down” can be understood as a representation of an evil spiritual world the heroes are trying to combat.
The fight is motivated by love for people. The episode also includes light occult elements because Eleven has telekinetic mind powers, but these powers are not portrayed as demonic or as witchcraft.
The episode’s central idea—that people should fight evil because they love others—connects with Scripture’s warning that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6:12).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
<p class="SingleSpacepara">CONTENT: (BB, C, O, LL, V, M):</p> <p class="SingleSpacepara"><b>
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
</b> Strong moral worldview as good is continuing to fight evil, including human beings and non-human beings, the “upside down” can be seen as a representation of the evil spiritual world that the “good guys” are trying to combat, the fight for people is motivated by love for them, plus light occult elements as girl has telekinetic mind powers, but they’re not portrayed as demonic or anything akin to witchcraft;</p> <p class="SingleSpacepara"><b><span lang="IT">
Foul Language
</span></b>22 or 23 obscenities and profanities, including 10 uses of “Oh my God” or “<span lang="SV">Jesus</span>” as exclamations, and one use of “slut”;</p> <p class="SingleSpacepara"><b><span lang="FR">
Violence
</span></b> Light violence includes a car chase and crash, girl’s nose bleeds, one character is shown with light bloody injuries on his face;</p> <p class="SingleSpacepara"><b>
Sex
</b><span lang="ES-TRAD"> No sexual content;</span></p> <p class="SingleSpacepara"><b>
Nudity
</b> No nudity;</p> <p class="SingleSpacepara"><b>
Alcohol Use
</b> No alcohol use;</p> <p class="SingleSpacepara"><b>
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
</b> No smoking or drug use; and,</p> <p class="SingleSpacepara"><b>
Miscellaneous Immorality
</b> Light miscellaneous content, a girl transports to another dimension in her mind, a character is shown in a somewhat disturbing manner, and a few other images could be disturbing.</p>
Talk About It
Four questions for the couch, the commute, or the couple bingeing it together.
The characters unite to fight evil and find missing people. What does love for others require from us when doing good becomes difficult?
1 John 3:16–18 · Galatians 6:2The “Upside Down” represents an evil spiritual world. What does Scripture teach about the reality of spiritual forces?
Ephesians 6:12 · 1 Peter 5:8–9Eleven uses unusual powers to help find others. How should Christians distinguish between God’s power and practices Scripture forbids?
Deuteronomy 18:10–12 · Acts 19:18–20The episode builds toward a final confrontation with evil. Where can believers find courage when they feel afraid?
Psalm 27:1 · 2 Timothy 1:7The Final Word
This is an exciting episode with a strong moral and redemptive heart. Its disturbing images and increased foul language call for parental discernment, but teenagers and adults can find meaningful themes in its fight against evil and its love for people. Our answer is WORTH WATCHING — MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UP.
